BLM Seeks Nominees for California Desert Advisory Council

The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert District is soliciting nominations from the public for six members of its California Desert District Advisory Council to serve a three-year term. The council’s 15 members provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the management of 11 million acres (17 thousand square miles) of public lands in eight counties of Southern California.

The council meets in formal session three to four times each year in various locations throughout the California Desert District. Council members serve without compensation. Members serve three-year terms and may be nominated for reappointment for an additional three-year term. The secretary selects council nominees consistent with the requirements of Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which require nominees appointed to the council be balanced in terms of points of view and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands within the area for which the council is established.

Nominations will be accepted through May 9, 2011. The three-year term would begin immediately upon confirmation by the secretary. The six positions to be filled include one representative of recreation groups or organizations, one representative of non-renewable energy groups or organizations, one representative of wildlife groups or organizations, and three representatives of the public-at-large (including one elected official).

Any group or individual may nominate a qualified person based upon education, training, and knowledge of the BLM, the California Desert, and the issues involving BLM-administered public lands throughout Southern California. Qualified individuals also may nominate themselves. The nomination form is on the Desert Advisory Council webpage: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/rac/dac.html. Nominations must include letters of support.

Advisory Council members are appointed by the secretary, and will be evaluated based on their education, training, and knowledge of the BLM, the California Desert District, and the issues involving BLM-administered public lands. The Obama Administration prohibits individuals who are currently federally registered lobbyists to serve on any FACA and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils.